The program begins with Dr. Morasch’s patient, Gerald, from Gary, Indiana. Gerald speaks candidly about when he was initially diagnosed while undergoing an MRI for back pain. He was immediately referred to the emergency room for further testing and they discovered the AAA. Through the advice of family members, he chose to seek treatment at Northwestern. His surgery was performed by Dr. Morasch on a Tuesday and Gerald was on his way back home the next morning. Listen to hear more of Gerald’s story and how he’s doing today.

Dr. Morasch helps listeners to understand exactly what an aneurysm is, why it happens and the genetic connection. He details the various treatment options for AAA and explains who is a candidate for surgery, and the risks of surgery. Dr. Morasch also stresses the importance of screening and observation, including a discussion of the SAAAVE bill passed by Congress in 2006 to allow a screening benefit for Medicare patients. He provides answers to a variety of listener questions and shares his insights about research and the future of treatment for AAA. If you or a loved one has been touched by this condition, listen to this program to learn more.

In this program, Andrew Schorr is joined by renowned medical expert Dr. Mark Farber, director of the UNC Endovascular Institute and associate professor of surgery and radiology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Dr. Farber has had many opportunities to treat AAA’s in his patients, thus saving their lives. One of Dr. Farber’s patients, Dick May, shares his story with us later in the program.

AAA is common in older adults, specifically older men between the ages of 65 and 75, and smokers. That is not to say that women and non-smokers are immune. Dick is 68 years old and an AAA survivor. Before his treatment and surgery, Dick had not felt any pains or experienced any symptoms, but he was screened because he fit the profile for persons with AAA. How many people out there fit the profile for AAA but have not yet been screened? In this program, you will learn more about the risks and ways to screen, scan and treat AAA’s. Join Dr. Farber and his patient, as we take a closer look into the dangers of this silent disease.

Jim Fulcher, a patient and emergency room doctor, joins the program to tell his story of being diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm through a CT scan. He shares his perspective and helps listeners understand what is involved in endovascular repair. Dr. Starnes details the procedure for implanting an aortic stent graft, which allows an aneurysm to be excluded from a patient’s circulation and gradually shrink. Although abdominal aneurysms are far more common, Dr. Starnes also touches on what defines a thoracic aneurysm and who is at risk for suffering from one. Besides family history and rare conditions, such as Marfan’s Syndrome, there are certain risk factors that people need to consider. Dr. Starnes explains why smoking increases the risk of a patient developing an aneurysm.

Not only does this program clearly define an aneurysm, but it allows patients to understand how the rate of expansion and size of an aneurysm help to determine when intervention is necessary. With the proper care and attention, aortic aneurysms can most certainly be prevented. According to Dr. Starnes, “There is no reason that anybody in the United States or in the western world really should die of a ruptured aneurysm. The screening method that we have to screen patients for abdominal aortic aneurysms is so simple. It’s non-invasive, and all it involves is a simple ultrasound examination.” This Patient Power program will educate you about the signs, symptoms and latest minimally-invasive ways to prevent an aortic aneurysm, and, quite possibly, save your life.

You would never guess that Alan Travis, a runner and mountain biker, had blocked coronary arteries. Because of a family history of heart disease, Alan had a new type of CT scan at the Arizona Heart Institute, where the serious problem was detected, and afterward he underwent successful triple bypass surgery to treat his blocked arteries. Alan is extremely healthy, but this genetic component can have much more to do with heart problems. Dr. Diethrich says, “We really haven’t put enough emphasis in this idea of screening and picking up the precursors that can lead to death and disability, and the technology is there now. We can actually image the entire body, not invasively, without really much inconvenience to the patient and without much discomfort.”

Dr. Diethrich also discusses the future of genetic testing and genetic mapping, as well as what therapies may be used once a heart problem is detected, including bypasses, angioplasties and stents. He goes into the history of stents and drug eluting stents. He and Andrew also discuss the new technological advances in heart treatment and research, and how complex it can make treatment. These complexities increase the importance of seeing a specialist and getting individualized treatment for heart problems.

Listen to this show to find out why prevention and early detection can save so many people from instant cardiac death. Learn about new ways you can be tested, and what new and exciting treatment options are available.